11 Surreal Photos From A Pagan Festival In Rural China

In January or February every year, much of the Asian world
celebrates the Chinese New
Year. That important holiday comes with regional traditions,
including the elaborate pagan She
Huo festival, celebrated in rural villages in the
northwestern Shanxi region.

Villagers dress in elaborate costumes of gods, spirits, and
mythical beasts while singing, dancing, and performing to
commemorate the 2,500-year-old festival. Chinese photographer
Zhang Xiao recently traveled to Shanxi to capture the festival in
several cities. He shared some of the photos with us here, and
you can
check out the rest in his new book, "Shanxi."

The She Huo Festival is a festival dedicated to the gods of earth
and fire. "She" literally means "God of Earth" and huo means "God
of Fire."Zhang Xiao

During the festival, villagers dress in elaborate costumes to
represent She and Huo, as well as other spirits and deities.
Zhang Xiao

Many villagers then participate in a She Huo procession to show
off the craftsmanship of their costumes and makeup. Zhang Xiao

A person riding a horse leads the procession, followed by a
banner, flag holders, performers, and a drum and gong
band.Zhang Xiao

Villagers have parades as well as performances of drama and
martial arts, in which costumed villagers act out myths and
ancient stories.Zhang Xiao

During the festival, stages are set up in the streets so that
villagers can hear singing and dancing everywhere.Zhang Xiao

"When I first witnessed the participants line up and then parade
around the village, I repeatedly kept asking myself whether I had
literally stepped into some kind of surreal wonderland," Zhang
said.Zhang Xiao

During the festival, villagers set up cone-shaped piles of
firewood outside the door of every house. Folk art troupes then
perform beside the fire, while homeowners give them
treats.Zhang Xiao

Every village has its own performing-art troupe.Zhang Xiao

The festival used to be very popular in most cities in northwest
China, but Zhang says that many city dwellers have begun to lose
their traditions. Zhang Xiao